Blackbeard's Gold Slot (Amaya) - Abnormal Design

[Simmo!]

Hi all,

Some of you will be aware of a recent discussion about the new Amaya slot "Blackbeard's Gold" which is available in at least 3 casinos to date. The slot is advertised as a 243 ways slot which has a free spin feature with random wild reels (stacked wilds) in the free spins bonus.

It was spotted that during the free spins, when a winning combination was encountered with stacked wilds in play, the win was only credited once instead of multiple times as is normal with these games. Comparisons can be drawn with Immortal Romance's "Wild Desire" feature, Thunderstruck 2's "Shitstorm" feature or the Wizard Of Oz's "Glinda" feature.

This was queried with Amaya by Intercasino, one of the casinos who feature the game and the following response has been returned:

While playing in the bonus round, the bonus does not pay 243 ways. This is because the wild reel is counted at 1 symbol and not 3. After reviewing the matter with the game provider, additional text has been added to the pay table to reinforce this point. This new text indicates:

During Free Spins, expanding wild can randomly appear on up to 3 reels, on reels 2,3,4 and/or 5. The expanding wilds convert the reel into single wild symbol (not 3 stacked wilds).

Although this addresses the miscommunication issue going forward, it is only natural for players to assume the wild reels behave as is normal in slots of this kind. However they clearly don't. What is more, the 243 ways of the base game are removed in the bonus feature which is also highly irregular.

I would add that the slot does appear to be achieving it's RTP and it is not underpaying.

Until now, without adequate descriptive text (indeed, during the free spins you actually see the numbers "243" alongside the reels) the slot could arguably be termed deceptive. Going forward, although the text is now clear, players should be aware that this game does not behave like a slot of this type normally does.

 

[naththo]

Yeah shame that they haven't explain that first place before release the new slot game to casino. They have learnt the lesson from worst mistake they have made, hopefully won't happen again. It is not professional in job not to lay out correct information first place especially casino is very strict place and must contain correct and accurate information. Im glad you took it up and talk to them about that to force them to put in additional text this time that is a job well done to you. Good on ya!

 

[quber]

I would be surprised if any casino publishes this game, it is just going to get complaints forever, when a new player realises that he isn't getting 243 lines in the bonus round they will contact the casino only to be told that it is correct as per the rules, that player will then be annoyed and maybe go somewhere else. it just isn't worth publishing.

They should have the bonus round as a fixed 25 line,or something, clearly labelled and let the expanding wilds act as expected

 

[Simmo!]

Agreed: I don't think this slot should be allowed anywhere near a casino in it's current form. In my opinion it is clearly deceptive in that it has stacked wilds that act as single wilds. Any semi-experienced slot player knows that stacked wilds, expanding wilds or wild reels are designed for multi-line wins. That is their SOLE purpose.

It also shows up a flaw in the way slots are regulated. Clearly whoever passes these slots fit for purpose doesn't look at how games are represented.

 

[Slotster!]

the slot could arguably be termed deceptive..

And then some.

What's the excuse for leaving the 243 ways on the 'amended' reels that play differently to the rest of the game?

Poor design again?

Real easy cop-out putting an extra line into the paytable, that still doesn't really adequately explain it. There is literally no point of those wilds expanding other than to deceive the player into it thinking it's a much more profitable/a much better feature than it actually is. No point whatsoever. I still think that we're in rogue territory on the deception basis alone.

Thanks for following this up Simmo, much appreciated.

Intercasino - it's been emotional! Good bye.

 

[Captain Chaos]

I was playing this in free play the other day and thought it was a bit... odd. Now I know why! Thanks for the heads-up on this. I haven't played at Intercasino for some time and was tempted to play this for real money. I certainly won't be now though. How on earth can you call a bonus round a bonus round when you reduce the number of pay lines from 243 to about 9, is it? Ridiculous.

I think the decent thing for Intercasino to do would be pull this game.

 

[Slotster!]

I think the decent thing for Intercasino to do would be pull this game.

Ha ha - not a chance. I checked, it's already back up with the new paytable wording in place.

They got it reinstated quicker than you could say "Where's my other 240 lines gone?"

 

[dusky]

If it still says 243 lines when playing the bonus round then it still needs to be removed, that is beyond deceptive.

Nice of them to take your concerns so seriously

 

[Googobucs]

This game is deceptive as hell. It deserves it's own spot in the rogue pit. The new verbiage in the pay table does not help at all. it should clearly state that free spins are not played at 243 ways based on the number of wilds that appear.
Any casino carrying this game at a minimum should be not recommended for sponsoring a game that is so horrible.

 

[Dinahnana]

I think the best solution to this issue is for Amaya to redesign the slot. In the feature maybe make the wild reel random (like in Playboy wild night feature) or Girls with Guns feature. As it stands right now the feature is a dud. While I do like the unique way Amaya have designed their newer slots, Blackbeards Gold was ill thought out IMO.

 

[KasinoKing]

I agree with everyone else - this is a shocking game and the provider should be deeply ashamed of themselves.

What is the point of an "expanding wild" which only = 1 symbol??? They might just as well of had it non-expanding - would amount to the same thing... EXCEPT that there would be 2 other symbols to potentially make a win from. So as someone else already pointed out, making the wilds expand actually REDUCES the pay-out potential, even if they are still counting it as 243 ways in the free-spins.
Ridiculous, scandalous, pointless.

KK

 

[Simmo!]

I think the best solution to this issue is for Amaya to redesign the slot. In the feature maybe make the wild reel random (like in Playboy wild night feature) or Girls with Guns feature. As it stands right now the feature is a dud. While I do like the unique way Amaya have designed their newer slots, Blackbeards Gold was ill thought out IMO.

If you look past this issue, this is in fact a really good slot IMO. It is like they designed a slot that was too good to achieve a satisfactory house edge and had to hamstring it. But the way they chose to do that was wrong.

If they removed a number of the high pay symbols, lost the stacked symbols and made these stacked wild reels behave properly (243 ways in the feature) they would have a very good high-variance slot akin to the excellent (10-line) "Mystic Secrets" by Novomatic. They have some RTP to play with too as Pogg pointed out it's range is between 90.04% & 92.98% right now.

 

[dunover]

As was said, the fact '243' still appears in the bonus round is moronic. And the concept of a bonus round that removes most of the way-win permutations is a joke, almost a punitive bonus round.
Blackbeard's Gold? More like Blackbeard's Faeces. All they need to do is add Rod Stewart's 'I am Sailing' as the sound overlay and it will have achieved its nadir of stupidity.

 

[AC7X]

They have some RTP to play with too as Pogg pointed out it's range is between 90.04% & 92.98% right now.

90% RTP on a video slot is appalling in its own right, and should be enough that no-one ever plays it. The fact that the slot is deceptive, and defies both logic and everyone's preconceived notion of what "bonus round" and "expanding wild" mean, is just the icing on the cake.

Simmo, have you given up on trying to get paid for your screenshot? Other than spreading awareness are we as a community going to impose any sanctions against this game/developer/casino?

 

[Simmo!]

Simmo, have you given up on trying to get paid for your screenshot?

Well, 3 things here: firstly, I came out up by a lot on that game/session anyway. Secondly, Intercasino have given me a few hundred $$ goodwill compensation and thirdly, the game is paying according to RTP so I was more interested in the odd mechanics.

I do however feel that the game developer is simply brushing this off without actually realising just how stupid and deceptive this is. I'd like to know WHY they put expanding wilds in the game if there was no intention for them to work.

 

[Slotster!]

I do however feel that the game developer is simply brushing this off without actually realising just how stupid and deceptive this is. I'd like to know WHY they put expanding wilds in the game if there was no intention for them to work.

It's all there in that paragraph, just not in quite the right order.

They put the expanding wilds in with no intention to work BECAUSE it is deceptive.

THEY CALL THEM EXPANDING WILDS ON THEIR OWN DESCRIPTION.

It's not a mistake.

Looks like an awesome feature, reality is garbage.

The audacity of telling you they are expanding wilds in the paytable (including today's paltry addition) indicates just how much developers (and Intercasino sadly) really don't give a shit.

I'm all for the house edge on slots and them making a killing out of us - that's how it works... Knock yourselves out - take my money and enjoy. This is totally different though, it's out and out designed to be deceptive and to look far more attractive to the player than it actually is.

The original mistake of publishing the game and then not immediately being able to justify the payout is bad enough - but you could give Intercasino a break for that. Banging the slot straight back up there with a meagre easily missed one line addition to the paytable though? With it still saying "243 ways"??

Throw them in the pit.

 

[zebedy]

Well, 3 things here: firstly, I came out up by a lot on that game/session anyway. Secondly, Intercasino have given me a few hundred $$ goodwill compensation and thirdly, the game is paying according to RTP so I was more interested in the odd mechanics.

I do however feel that the game developer is simply brushing this off without actually realising just how stupid and deceptive this is. I'd like to know WHY they put expanding wilds in the game if there was no intention for them to work.

With the explosion of the 243 way slots that have come out recently they must be really popular with the players and either the casino or designer wanted to jump on the bandwagon by having a 243 way slot at the casino to entice the players, They dont have many at inter do they ? ive not played there for ages so i wouldn't know.

But i think somebody got scared about the massive bonus hits that can be achieved, just look a IR, so doctored this to play like it does.
A few big hits on the slot at the wrong time could impact a casino's cashflow i guess,

The fact that the bonus round rules were missing was very sneaky of them and unless your an experienced slot player most people probably wouldn't notice how the bonus round plays and would think its normal

Thats my thought on it

 

[243 lines=daft]

I think that's pretty bang on. They've wanted a bit of Immortal Romance's action without exposure to the 'big boy' variance of an MGS 243 liner.

It's clearly unacceptable for Intercasino to be offering this game, but I'd hope that CM could have a strong word in their ear to get them to see sense rather than dumping them straight into Rogue central.

Intercasino have surely amassed enough brownie points over the years to have a chance of avoiding having their balls blown off by this particular grenade.

 

[Casinomeister]

I'm in the process of contacting them now. Thanks to Simmo for bringing this to my attention.

 

[Slotster!]

I'm in the process of contacting them now. Thanks to Simmo for bringing this to my attention.

Nice one, cheers Bryan. Would be interested to hear their response.

 

[Slotster!]

Hola. Did they ever get back to you Bryan? Just wondering if there was an official response... Cheers!

 

[smokeeye]

So..?

 

[dunover]

BUMP! What came of this slot issue???

 

[Finn]

BUMP! What came of this slot issue???

Googled for this game, went to one casino game portal site and went through their list of "PLAY BLACKBEARDS GOLD FOR REAL HERE". Was happy to see that it was just listing of Cryptologic casinos where this or any other Cryptologic game could be available, but none of them actually had it.

You can't find this game at Intercasino either through their own website or their own search, but you can play it in free play at some casino game portal sites, the free play box opens on the game portal site's website, but it seems to be hosted by Intercasino.

So it seems that it can't be played anywhere for real money, and next time when Intercasino does a deeper cleanup, after that it probably won't be playable in free play at casino game portals.